PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Plymouth State University women's ice hockey team was picked to finish tied for third in the inaugural Little East Conference (LEC) women's ice hockey season, as the league released its Preseason Coaches' Poll on Thursday.
 
Plymouth State earned 23 points to tie UMass Boston for third, just ahead of Southern Maine. Norwich collected six first-place votes to top the poll with 36 points, while VTSU Castleton was second with 24 points. UMass Boston claimed the final first-place vote and tied PSU for third, one point ahead of USM. Keene State (13) and New England College (6) rounded out the standings.
 
Head coach Ben Chipman enters his third season behind the bench after leading PSU to a remarkable turnaround. Chipman's squad shattered numerous program records last winter, finishing with a program-best 18-7-2 mark while going 11-2-2 to capture both the MASCAC regular season and tournament titles. The Panthers outlasted Rivier in four overtimes to win the inaugural championship game, 2-1 – the second-longest contest in NCAA Division III women's ice hockey history.
 
Junior Karlee Lehner (Prince Albert, Saskatchewan) was named Tournament MVP after totaling 51 saves, a 0.64 goals-against average, and a .962 save percentage in PSU's two playoff wins. Senior Katie Porrello (Milford, Conn.) earned All-MASCAC Second Team honors after setting single-season program records for points (23) and assists (16), while senior Jacqueline Martin (Smithfield, R.I.) and junior Jamie Steinmetz (Madison, Wis.) return to anchor the defense.
 
Plymouth State opens the 2025-26 season with a home-and-home series against Salem State, hosting the Vikings on Oct. 31 (2 p.m.) before traveling to Salem on Nov. 1. The Panthers begin LEC play at home against Keene State on Nov. 7 (6 p.m.).